SWPP Convention Report

January has been an eventful month. The first challenge was one we all faced - coping with heavy snow that we're definitely not used to. Then it was one week spent preparing my lectures for the SWPP Convention in London, a fantastic week at the Convention itself followed by eight days (and counting) completely grounded by a flu virus, probably picked up on the way home. Hopefully things should get back to normal by February!

In the meantime here are a few shots from the Convention, starting with the the opening event, the Business School (overseen by Catherine Connor from Annabel Williams CPT). Two days of solid business advice from a variety of successful photographers and professional marketers, the Business School was a sell-out and rightly so. This is me in action on the first morning, talking about the benefits of Networking.....

Later in the week, after being part of the mid-week judging panel for awards and qualifications, it was on to portrait photography. Now what was that about never working with children and animals...?

After the Saturday Masterclass theory came the Sunday practical, with our young models ready and eager for the small-group 'Superclass'. The concrete and glass landscape of an urban hotel in mid January isn't the most sympathetic environment for capturing natural images of under 5s, but the delegates and I rose to the challenge. Capturing a winning shot of the two children together escaped me on this short photoshoot demonstration - the distraction of a nearby set of revolving doors proved too much to keep them both in the same place at the same time! There was plenty of scope for individual shots though, all taken in natural light. Everyone had fun in spite of the cold - in fact we were blessed with sunshine, the first of the whole week.

Having fun with shadows....

Here's to the SWPP Convention 2011. Hope to see you there.

SWPP Convention 2010

Just got back from my weekly boxercise class (aimed to keep me fit for sailing would you believe)....the first one after my annual overdose of Christmas pud. Luckily BJ the trainer went easy on us for the first session of the New Year.

Unfortunately David Williams has had to postpone the Cheshire seminar at our studio later this month, but the Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers International Convention starts next week and is definitely on. I'll be speaking on business and portrait photography topics over the week as well as being one of the judges for the Annual 20x16 Print Competition. There are over 150 seminars over the 6 days so there's something for every kind of photographer. You can check out the schedule at http://www.swpp.co.uk/convention/

See you there!